By Clare Dear, National Post

Originally published: July 26, 2012

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Dawsonville, Ga. — Blossoming professionals need a way of showing others they’re on the cusp of success – and how better than by dumping their old wheels and moving up to a new, sporty, compact luxury car? This group of successful younger consumers is making the entry level on the upscale car ladder the largest segment of the global luxury market. It’s a class dominated by such brands as Audi, with its A4, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW, which initiated the category with its 3 Series.

Cadillac hasn’t been able to compete in the compact segment because it hasn’t had an appropriate product – until now. Enter the all-new 2013 Cadillac ATS, a rear-wheel-drive (all-wheel drive is available) compact luxury sedan with performance credentials the grandparents of those upwardly mobile young professionals never imagined.

The ATS is the smallest Cadillac since a pair of ill-fated Caddy compacts, the Cimarron (1982-88) and Catera (1997-2001). This new baby Cadillac, however, has all the credentials to make it a competent competitor with the segment leaders.

The ATS will be available with a choice of three engines when it makes its public debut this fall. The base motor is a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 202 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque while consuming fuel at a rate of 9.2 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 6 on the highway. The optional engines are a 2.0L four with a twin-scroll turbocharger that kicks out 272 horses and 260 pound-feet of torque or a 3.6L V6 that generates 321 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque.

I had the opportunity to drive all three powertrains, including the 2.0L with a smooth-shifting six-speed manual gearbox, during a media preview on roads north of Atlanta as well as several laps at Atlanta Motorsports Park, a new private road-racing circuit set in the hills near here.

Each powertrain will appeal to a specific type of consumer. The base 2.5L, for example, will be more than adequate for buyers more interested in fuel economy and vehicle price than higher performance. That’s not to say this four-banger is a slouch – it was smooth and responsive on the highway, though it did get a bit noisy when the six-speed automatic dropped down a gear or two for passing power.

The real sweetheart in the lineup is the 2.0L Turbo. It’s quick to respond with generous torque, yet it cruises sedately on the interstate. Coupled to the six-speed automatic with magnesium paddle shifters, it was a delight to drive. This engine’s true performance potential, however, surfaced when it was mated to a slick Tremec six-speed manual gearbox. On twisty mountain roads, as well as on the track, the engine spooled eagerly as I moved up and down through the gearbox. (The manual box is only available with the 2.0 Turbo.)

The 3.6 V6 is the big boy on the engine chart, with 321 ponies and 275 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to the six-speed automatic and has more than enough grunt to satisfy the needs of drivers seeking superior performance. It’s smooth, quiet and cruises effortlessly on the highway while delivering impressive acceleration when the go pedal is kicked. It’s a tick quicker than the 2.0 Turbo in both zero-to-96-kilometres-an-hour launches (5.4 seconds versus the Turbo’s time of 5.7) and the quarter-mile (14 seconds flat for the V6, 14.1 for the Turbo four). For comparison, the base engine does the zero-to-96-km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds and trips the clock on the drag strip in 15.6 seconds.

The new ATS gives Cadillac a competitive product in all three segments of the luxury car class, joining the mid-size CTS and the new full-size XTS. The ATS, however, is not a stripped-down CTS – its architecture is specifically designed for this car. While Cadillac officials hedged on the question, you can bet there will be other models coming that are based on this same, lightweight platform, likely including a coupe and possibly a sportback wagon.

The entire car has been designed with particular attention to reducing weight – Ògram by gram,Ó as global chief engineer Ken Kelzer explained. For example, even fastener sizes were evaluated and, in some cases, lighter bolts and nuts replaced larger units.

Throughout the car, similar weight-saving changes have been made, including extensive use of lighter materials, high-strength steels and unique components and assembly techniques, such as cast-aluminum shock towers (a first for GM), scalloping the edges of components to remove excess material and drilling holes in struts and supports to reduce overall weight. The result is a four-door sedan that tips the scales at just 1,503.7 kilograms, the lightest car in its category.

Don’t assume, however, that the lightness compromises rigidity. On the track, as well as those curvy mountain roads, there was never a hint of chassis twist. The car felt solid, allowing the multi-link, double-pivot MacPherson front strut suspension and five-link independent rear system to effectively soak up bumps and other road surface imperfections, yet hold the ATS firmly upright while cornering. For those enthusiasts demanding the ultimate handling prowess, Magnetic Ride Control is offered as a performance-enhancing package. The FE3 sport suspension system is driver adjustable, while the new third-generation version of MRC provides real-time dampening, scanning every 2.54 centimetres of the road at 96 km/h. At that speed, it can switch from full hard to full soft in just 12.7 centimetres in response to changing demands.

Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of the new ATS is the minimal intrusion of road, wind and engine noise. The roomy cabin is church-quiet. However, rather than load the car up with heavy, sound-deadening materials, Cadillac engineers partnered with the Bose audio experts to develop a noise-cancelling system. Similar in concept to noise-cancelling headphones, the system generates specific frequencies that cancel sounds you hear such as engine drone. Its effectiveness is amazing.

In developing the ATS, Cadillac engineers wanted a vehicle that could compete with the best sporty luxury compacts on the planet – and this initial taste suggests they’ve hit their mark.

Pricing starts at $35,195 (plus destination charges) for the 2.5L base sedan and climbs to the 3.6L V6, starting at $43,935. Three optional trim levels will be offered: Luxury, Performance and Premium.